The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-18
SHE WANTED TO BE A WIDOW.
Romance of an Eeiress Ambitious of
the Freedom of WidoWhnod

Romance of an Eeiress Ambitious of
the Freedom of Widowhood
A detailed and interesting account of a
remarkable marriage contracted bya young
lady of wealth and social position with a poor
consumptive printer, for the express purpose
of attaining the blessed state OF widowhood.
is printed by the San Francisco Framiner.
The young lady is Miss Lily F. D own, of
Oakland On coming of age, last Octo-
her. she received fortune of $4,000 from
her fathers estate. The possession of this
money inspired her with a desire TO enjoy
life freed from the restraints imposed upon
Young spinsters by social conventional
ties.
While living at the Brunswick House. in
Oakland, she proposed to a friend, a widow
also stopping there, that they take pleasure
trip to the Yosemite together. The widow
assented, suggesting that if they could both
travel as widows their enjoyment of the trip
would be greatly enhanced.
"a widow she slyly insinuated, lean go
about with freedom, fiirt and have lots of
fun but young girl has to be SO careful. !"
Miss Brown was greatly taken by the idea.
Black would certainly become her blonde
come widow without first being wife! she
sighed.
Another friend, Capt Richard Apgar,
who lived with his wife at the hotel, was
taken into the ladies confidence. When APP
prised of the ambition of the young heiress,
he laughed and said:
''Why, nothing could be easier. There
are hundreds of men dying in San Francisco
all the the time. I'll find you onen
The would-be widow hailed the Captains
brilliant idea with delight. He proved as
good as his word. Going to DR.. Arson A
Du Puy, a friend of his, ne asked that physi-
clan if he knew of a man not likely to live
more than couple of weeks who would be
willing to marry a rich maiden DESTROYS of
changing her STATE to that of charming
young widow.
81 have Just the man." said DR.. Du Puy.
''Frank Mckee, young printer, whom am
treating for consumption, is almost dying.
Only your young lady will have to hurry
the nuptials, for he may not last two
days"
Next day the marriage was performed at
the doctors office by Justice of the
Peace After the ceremony the almost I'M
conscious groom was taken back home and
put to bed.
Since then his bride has been impatiently
waiting for him to die. She has even pro-
vided sums amounting to 81 600 to defray
the expenses of his supposedly short remain
ing span of life and of first-class funeral
when he. died, DR.. Du Puys interesting
patient, being provided with all the luxuries
and delicacies he craved out Of the money,
has evinced strange and persistent inclina-
ton to disappoint all the expectations built
upon the strange marriage. So far from
dying he has grown stout and strong, and
evidently has no intention or Immediately
departing this vale OF tears.
Meeting his bride on the street few weeks
ago, he assured her of his abiding love and
expressed desire that his happiness should
be crowned by their living together. To
this Mrs Mckee returned an indignant re-
fusal Though the unreasonable man in
sisted on living in violation of the under
standing that he should die speedily she did
not dare to resist his appeal for funds. The
secret of the marriage was well kept all this
time, though a blackmailer had tried to
bleed the heiress by threats of making it
public. On appealing to counsel she found
that she could do nothing to eXtricate herself
from the dilemma. While her husband
lived she was his wife, and although she
could refuse to live with him, she could not
obtain divorce.
A reporter calling on Mrs Mckee to-day
witnessed strange scene. There was soft
knock on the door, and the lady, raising to
open it, much to her surprise, was confront
ed by her husband. He slid into a chair
with weary, remorseful look His wife
withdrew a few feet, and surveying the
intruder angrily demanded in icy tones:
what do you want here, sirF' Before he
could reply Mckee was seized with a vio-
lent fit of coughing AT this Mrs. McKee's
face frightened. Hope shone in her eyes.
But the light died out as Mckee regained
his coInposure, and it appeared that the
spasms We're merely the consequence of a
quid OF tobacco having lodged in his
throat
81 just wanted to let you know that had
nothing to do with putting it in the papers"
he said i'll q contrite tone
With an exclamation of disgust Mrs. Nc
Kee seated herself ON an ottoman obviously
waiting for her unwelcome spouse to go.
His jet-black curls and pale, sad face, lit by
mournful eyes of tenderest hazel, evidently
did not interest hel. On his part, settling
himself in his chair. Mckee continued to
| gaze for several minutes with an expression
Of wrapt but woful devotion on the reed-like
form of his young bride. Raising at last, he
held out his hand and said: Good by"
Good by" she answered coldly and with
ont noticing the proffered hand. In another
moment he was gone.